Introducing Egypt's New First Family

Today, the Electoral Committee is supposed to announce the official results of the Presidential Elections. This morning, when I was walking to work, the Corniche was empty. Deserted. Now it's crowded again, getting more crowded by the hour, as the city prepares for tonight's celebrations. We have been told to expect trouble with the Internet connection in the upcoming hours. My colleague told me that the last time they announced something like that, it took them 3 days to fix the problem. Naturally, conspiracy theories are immediately popping up all around - are they trying to control terrorist activity? does this have anything to do with limiting opposition comments on social media? A rumor has been going around lately, that Facebook and Twitter are going to be controlled .. Should we expect a second Erdogan in Egypt? I am writing this post quickly, in case we do get cut off today ... 

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, without further delay, let me introduce to you Egypt's next First Family: the x-field marshall Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, his wife Entissar Amer and daughter Aya al-Sisi. There are also three sons: Mustafa, Mahmoud and Hassan, but so far not much information about them has been shared in the media.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and wife, Entissar Amer, during an army gala in February 2014 (photo courtesy: Twitter, via Al Arabya).

Aya al-Sisi (far right) - not confirmed officially to be Sisi's daughter. (Photo courtesy: Twitter, via Al Arabya.)


Entissar Amer (her husband's maternal cousin), who made her first public appearance by her husband's side in February, shortly before Sisi's official decision to participate in the electoral run, caused some controversy because she wears the hijab, a popular version of the veil, worn by many Egyptian women. Prior to this first public appearance, some suspected that she might be fully-covered, wearing the niqab (a very conservative Muslim female dress, normally not particularly welcome in the army circles). She is said to be polite, humble and focused on her family, leaving "big politics" to her husband.

It is worth noting that the wife of the former president, Naglaaa Ali Mahmoud Morsy, was also veiled and much more conservative than Mrs. Sisi. It was through her, that the Western World got their first  peek into the status of gender roles in the so-called "New Egypt". She was also something of an ambassador for the Muslim Brotherhood, a vivid picture of their preferred role of the woman in society. 

Naglaa Ali Mahmoud Morsy (photo: source unknown, via Forbes).


"First Families" in all countries of the world are posed as examples or role models for the societies to follow and most likely the case will  not be any different in Sisi's Egypt. I agree that we should not be judged by our physical appearance, but in reality we are and the way the president of a nation and his (or her) family dress is of certain significance, especially in a country where the type of veil worn may often determine one's lifestyle, beliefs and the status in society. I would only like to hope that we are not  judged by our looks alone.

Meanwhile, the popular satirist Bassem Youssef, has oficially ended his talk-show "El Bernameg" ("The Program") stating that he is tired of worrying about his life and the safety of his family, and that the show has run it's course. Bassem's popular TV show, bringing millions of Egyptians in front of the receivers every week has suffered numerous repressions (including blocking it from being broadcast on air) and the presenter himself has been accused of offending the country, its government and public officials. He was arrested and has received death threats. 


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